Report

Report-2004-2005

Report of the Commission for the Evangelization and Pastoral Care of the Migrants (CEPCM) 2007-2008

We give below a report of the activities of the Syro-Malabar Synodal Commission for the Evangelization and the Pastoral Care of the Migrants (CEPCM) for the period from August 2007 to August 2008.

1. Commission Meetings

On the sidelines of the XV Synod (2007) Session 2 of Bishops of the Syro-Malabar Church, held from the 20th to the 31st of August 2007 the Syro-Malabar Synodal Commission for the Evangelisation and the Pastoral Care of the Migrants (CEPCM) held two meetings at the CEPCM office at Mount St Thomas to evaluate the functioning of the Commission, to plan out the future course of action and specific modes of functioning. The meeting was held under the chairmanship of Bp Gregory Karotemprel CMI, the Chairman of the Commission. Both the Bishop members of the Commission, Bp Vijay Anand Nedumpuram CMI and Bp Mathew Vaniakizhakkel VC were present together with Fr Joby Koottumkal, the secretary. There were discussions on the publications of the Commission as well as the seminars of the Mission Policy of the Syro-Malabar Church which were going to be held in two phases in Bhopal and Mount St Thomas in 2007 and 2008 respectively. The details of the pastoral care of the migrants as well as the appointments of the Syro-Malabar priests to various places/countries like UK & Ireland and Australia also were the topics of the discussions.

2. Seminars on the Mission Policy of the Syro-Malabar Church

A. Bhopal
The Synod of bishops of the Syro-Malabar Church that met in August 2007 at Mount St Thomas decided to hold two study seminars on the Mission Policy of the Syro-Malabar Church. It was the first time that a general guiding policy for the Syro-Malabar Mission was formulated and promulgated by the Church on 19th March 2006. The decision of the Synod prompted the Synodal Commission for the Evangelisation and the Pastoral Care of the Migrants (CEPCM) to conduct the first study seminar on the mission policy in Bhopal. The Seminar aimed at making the North Indian Missionary Members of our Church more deeply aware of the missionary call and reminding the other members of the of the Church of the fact that each one is called “to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world” in the concrete situation of our Motherland, India. Hundred and twenty delegates, consisting of the representatives of the ten Mission Dioceses of the Syro-Malabar Church and of the various Institutes of Consecrated Life, both for men and women, together with five Syro-Malabar Missionary Bishops, under the leadership of Mar Gregory Karotemprel CMI, met at Poornodaya, Bhopal on 13th and 14th of November 2007 to study and find ways and means to implement the Document “The Mission Policy of The Syro-Malabar Major Archiepiscopal Church,” promulgated by His Beatitude Mar Varkey Cardinal Vithayathil, Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church.

His Grace Dr Leo Cornelio, the Archbishop of Bhopal, inaugurated the Seminar on 13th of November 2007. A message of the Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church was read out in the inaugural session. In his message the Cardinal urged all the children of the Syro-Malabar Church to intensify the work of evangelization according to the ritual traditions and policy. Three Papers were presented: (1) The Syro-Malabar Mission Policy: To be the Salt of the Earth and the light of the World by Rev. Dr Joseph Thekkekarott MST (2) Syro-Malabar Missionary Witnessing Thrust and Mission Documents of the Church by Rev. Dr Thomas Kollamparampil CMI and (3) A Panorama of the Present Syro-Malabar Missionary Involvement – A Critical Appraisal by Rev. Dr Jose Palakeel MST.

i. Experience Sharing & Mission Exhibition
There was a session for the sharing of the rich experiences of the Syro-Malabar mission dioceses such as Adilabad, Bijnor, Chanda, Gorakhpur, Rajkot, Kalyan, Jagdalpur, Sagar, Satna and Ujjain. During another sharing session on the missionary involvement of the Institutes of Consecrated Life, the Congregations like CMI, VC, MST, MCBS, CST, CMC, FCC, SABS, DST, SD, SH, CHF and MMB shared their missionary experiences, difficulties and possibilities. Rev. Fr James M.L, Director, Poornodaya, moderated the general discussions on the final day of the seminar. Co-operation among the various mission dioceses, support from the Mother Church, the relation between the Mother Church and the mission dioceses, co-operation among the religious in the mission, missionary vocations, on-going formation of the missionary personnel, creation of provinces for the Syro-Malabar Mission dioceses, organizing programmes for creating missionary consciousness among the laity in the proper territory, developments in the Delhi mission, fund-raising for the mission gatherings etc. were the main topics of the general discussions. There was a well-arranged exhibition on the missionary activities of the Mission dioceses of the Syro-Malabar Church. The participants made the best use of the charts and flex sheets and appreciated the work behind. The seminar ended on 14th November by 4:00 pm with the approval of the Final Statement.

B. Mission Seminar at Mount St Thomas
The Second Seminar on the Mission policy of the Syro-Malabar Church was conducted at mount St Thomas, the Major Archiepiscopal Curia of the Church, on 5th, 6th and 7th of February 2008 predominantly for the representatives of the 16 Archdioceses/dioceses of the Syro-Malabar Church in South India and that of the various Institutes of Consecrated Life, both for men and women. 222 delegates, including four Archbishops, six Bishops, priests, one representative each from the 10 Syro-Malabar mission dioceses, a good number of sisters and lay faithful participated in the seminar. They tried to analyse the extent of the mission awareness, prevailing in the Mother Church, find out ways and means to promote mission spirit in the Mother Church, ponder over the possibilities to support and sustain the mission dioceses and various mission endeavours taken up by different Institutes of Consecrated Life and to study and implement the Document “The Mission Policy of The Syro-Malabar Major Archiepiscopal Church.

His Beatitude Mar Varkey Vithayathil inaugurated the seminar and the session was presided over by Archbishop Mar Joseph Powathil. Besides them His Grace Archbishop Mar Mathew Moolakatt, Bp Mar Gregory Karotemprel CMI, Bp Mar Joseph Arumachadath, Bp Mar A.D. Mattam, Mr P.C. Abraham (Kunjettan) Pallattukunnel, Very Rev. Msgr Joseph Mampallikunnel, Vicar General, Belthangady, Very Rev. Fr Varghese Puthussery VC, Superior General, Very Rev. Fr Kurian Ammanathukunnel mst, Director General, Very Rev. Fr Joseph Chathanatt CST, Very Rev. Sr Phillis SSS, Superior General, Very Rev. Sr Mancy CPS, Superior General, Very Rev. Sr Sunitha MLF, Superior General, Very Rev. Sr Ceelia FCC, Superior General, Very Rev. Sr Thresiamma Pallikunnel S.H., Superior General, Very Rev. Sr Cornelia CSS, Superior General, Very Rev. Sr Seby Rose CSM, Superior General, Very Rev. Sr Agnet Koramkuzhackal DST, Superior General and Very Rev. Sr Barthelomeo SMC, Superior General were the dignitaries on the stage during the inaugural session. 

i. Resource Persons & Moderators
Four Papers were presented on the Mission Policy and the mission: (1) “The Syro-Malabar Mission Policy: To be the Salt of the Earth and the light of the World” by Rev. Dr Joseph Thekkekarott MST, (2) “Syro-Malabar Missionary Witnessing Thrust and Mission Documents of the Church” by Rev. Dr Thomas Kollamparampil CMI, (3) “A Panorama of the Present Syro-Malabar Missionary Involvement – A Critical Appraisal” by Rev. Dr Jose Palakeel MST and (4) “Lay Vision on Mission” by Honourable Justice Kurian Joseph, High Court of Kerala.

Archbishop Mar Joseph Perumthottam, Archbishop Mar Andrews Thazhath, Bp Mar James Pazhayattil, Bp Mar Joseph Arumachadath, Rev. Dr Antony Kollannur, Chancellor, Syro-Malabar Church, Rev. Dr Cherian Kanjirakkompil, Procurator of the Syro-Malabar Church in Rome, Msgr Joseph Mampillikkunnel. Vicar General, Diocese of Belthangady, Very Rev. Fr Varghese Puthussery VC, Superior General, Very Rev. Fr Kurian Ammanathukunnel mst, Director General, Very Rev. Sr Thresiamma Pallikkunnel SH, Superior General, Mrs Beena Manoj, editor, Jesus Youth International News Letter and lead singer of the Rex Band, Mr Georgekutty Augusthy, Kanjirappally etc. moderated various sessions of the presentation of papers and reports on the missionary involvement of the dioceses as well as the Institutes of Consecrated Life 

ii. Presentation of the Reports on Mission & Mission Exhibition
Almost all the dioceses of the Syro-Malabar Church, including the mission dioceses, presented reports that clearly evinced their missionary spirit and enthusiasm during the sharing sessions of the seminar. At least one representative from the mission dioceses like Ujjain, Sagar, Satna, Gorakhpur, Jagdalpur, Adilabad, Chanda, Rajkot, Bijnor and Kalyan also participated in the seminar and presented detailed reports on the missionary activity in the less Christian areas of India, fighting against adverse weather conditions and other critical circumstances and predicaments. Their reports also pointed to the future course of action in spreading the fragrance of the Good News of Jesus Christ. Around 35 Institutes of Consecrated Life for both men and women in the Syro-Malabar Church presented very valuable reports on their active missionary involvement and new and enthralling missionary ventures in various parts of India and abroad. Their sharing was a God-given opportunity for the participants of the seminar to intimately know the various Institutes of Consecrated Life as well as to understand their missionary charisms. Reports, deliberations, discussions, analyses etc. of the seminar clearly depicted the total missionary spirit and enthusiasm of the Syro-Malabar Church.

A mission exhibition was arranged along the sidelines of the seminar at Mount St Thomas. Almost all the dioceses and Institutes of Consecrated Life in the Syro-Malabar Church prepared on flex sheets a comprehensive presentation of their manifold activities in the mission field. The exhibition, that depicted the statistics as well as the identity and distinct nature of the mission work of the Syro-Malabar Church, evidently proved to be highly advantageous to all the participants of the seminar. The charts and flex sheets displayed maps of the states or districts in which the mission dioceses and Institutes of Consecrated Life were situated, fields of missionary activity, updated statistics, information and pictures on the population of the area, data about the missionaries, institutions, villages, languages, diverse cultures etc.

iv. Suggestions of the Seminar
The representatives, after the presentation of all the papers and reports, had group discussions. The significant suggestions of the discussions are given below.

1. Establish a Mission Secretariat at Mount St Thomas with all the facilities so as to collect, store and transfer the statistics on mission and migrants.

2. Giving importance to mission work, establish a similar set up at the head quarters of all the dioceses with all the necessary facilities and appoint a priest who is efficient and notably interested in the mission work.

3. Establish an archdiocese for all the mission dioceses of the Syro-Malabar Church for their unity and sustained growth. Promote and foster vocations to the mission.

4. Renew the syllabus of the catechism classes, especially the 11th and the 12th standards so as to generate love for the mission in the students. Give opportunities to the visiting missionaries of the parishes to share their missionary experience with the students of the catechism classes. Train the children to pray for the mission and missionaries. Mission League has to be strengthened in the parishes.

5. Mother dioceses, financially sound parishes and various pious organisations may be encouraged to support the mission dioceses and endeavours through prayer, financial assistance etc. They may send priests and religious to the mission areas for a fixed period of time. The bishops from the Mother dioceses must visit the mission dioceses whenever it is possible so as to enhance mutual co-operation.

6. Organize seminars and exhibitions that foster the missionary awareness among the faithful in the diocesan, forane and parish levels.

7. Arrange parish mission meet, for the Syro-Malabar missionary personnel, working in the Latin dioceses.

8. Create missionary consciousness in the Mother Church through the means of communication like Catholic magazines, news papers, TV, radio, CDs, websites, e-mail etc.

9. Train and send lay faithful to the mission fields, taking into consideration the importance of laity in the mission work.

10. Ensure the co-operation and support of the migrants of the Syro-Malabar Church for mission work as they have a unique role to play in the modern circumstances of the mission work.

11. Realize that the term ‘proper territory’ is unjust and stop using it in further discussions and documents.

v. The Seminar’s Evaluation of the Mission Context

1. The mission context in India offers both challenges and opportunities for the work of evangelisation of the missionaries of the Syro-Malabar Church.

2. Join hands with the residents of the mission area in language and food habits.

3. In matters related to social and religious aspects of the mission area, the missionaries should work in the forefront with justice and virtue.

4. Life witness, personal holiness, attitude for reconciliation, friendliness and tolerance should be the basic virtues of the missionaries.

5. Handle provocations with Christian spirit.

6. Inform Mother Church and dioceses of the tensions and problems of the mission areas without delay.

7. Make use of the popular media like dance, drama, music, cinema etc. for the effective work of evangelisation.

8. Encourage inter-religious dialogue in mission and foster tolerance among religions.

9. Support the efforts for obtaining reservation for the Dalit Christians.

vi. Important Points of the Final Statement

1. The seminar emphasizes its concern regarding the dangers of religious relativism and possible dilution of faith in Jesus Christ, and affirms unequivocally that we Christians have no other way, truth and life without or besides Jesus Christ the Lord and we proclaim Jesus as the only Saviour and Mediator between God and man.

2. The seminar very strongly states that all India jurisdiction for the Syro-Malabar Church is not a concession or a favour, but our just and natural right. The Syro-Malabar Synod is duty-bound to take necessary steps to get these unjust and unchristian restrictions removed.

3. The mission seminar assembly earnestly requests the Synod of the Syro-Malabar Church to take immediate steps to obtain for the migrants their ecclesial birth right to pastoral care in their own Rite and ecclesial tradition.

4. To provide adequate pastoral care for our migrants in our own Rite and ecclesial tradition different bishops may be appointed with jurisdictional power over the migrants wherever necessary, especially all over India, in the Gulf countries and in Europe and UK.

5. Occasional gatherings of the Syro-Malabar missionaries working in the sister churches may be organized by their (Syro-Malabar) home dioceses to inculcate in them interest and appreciation for their mother church.

6. In the context of our mission in India, we feel that proclamation of the Good News through loving and caring Christian presence - through being rather than actions - would be more judicious and effective. At the same time, no one shall forget the responsibility for direct proclamation wherever the situation is conducive for it.

7. As India is land of many cultures, the specific modes of inculturation should organically evolve from the living context of the people. Hence, incarnation of the Good News in the context is to be considered an urgent need for effective evangelization.

8. The CEPCM should make proper arrangements for raising funds for mission from our faithful (almost 9,00,000 families) and institutions, perhaps in the model of German Missio. It will also create an improved missionary consciousness in the faithful. The Syro-Malabar Mission Sunday collection should be made effective and the funds be utilized for the promotion of the Syro-Malabar mission.

9. The vocations from the Mother Church should be directed primarily to the Syro-Malabar mission dioceses and the Institutes of Consecrated Life.

10. Since Laity’s role in evangelization is vital, we need to train lay evangelizers and use their talents and resources as co-workers in both evangelization and pastoral care of the Migrants.

11. The seminar strongly advocates organizing mission exposure programme for the major seminarians and for the members of Mission League and other Church organisations of Kerala.

The waves of the Seminars on the Mission Policy surely would continue to have their impact on the whole of the Syro-Malabar Church, incessantly making it more vigorously missionary. Serious discussions, presentations of the manifold experiences of the dioceses and Institutes of Consecrated Life and the exhibition on mission made the seminar exceptionally dynamic. All of them together generated in the participants a lasting impression and awareness on mission. The seminar ended on 7th February 2008 by 4:00 pm with the approval of the Final Statement.

3. Gulf Meet 2007

The first Gulf Meet of the Syro-Malabar emigrant faithful from various countries of the Gulf area was held in Doha, Qatar on 30th November 2007. Some 200 Syro-Malabar delegates from Saudi Arabia, U.A.E., Sultanate of Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar, the six States of the Gulf area attended the Meet along with both the bishops of Gulf area, Bishop Paul Hinder of the Vicariate of Saudi Arabia and Bishop Camilllo Ballin of the Vicariate of Kuwait and Bishop Gregory Karotemprel CMI of Rajkot, Chairman of the Synodal Commission for Evangelization and Pastoral Care of Migrants of Syro-Malabar Church (CEPCM). Rev. Fr Cherian Kanjirakkompil, Procurator of the Syro-Malabar Church in Rome, Rev. Fr Joby Koottumkal mst, Secretary to the Commission (CEPCM), Rev. Fr. Tomasito Veneracion OFM Cap, Parish Priest of Doha Catholic Parish, Rev. Fr. Selvaraj Arokiam OFM Cap. Asst. Parish Priest of Doha Catholic Parish and Mr Francis Thekkethala, Coordinator in Kerala also attended the Meet.

The Gulf Meet 2007 was arranged in line with the decisions of the Global Meet 2006 to conduct the Emigrants’ Meet occasionally at the regional level for better results in the Gulf and other areas where Syro-Malabar faithful live in large numbers. The Syro-Malabar Cultural Organization of Qatar voluntarily came forward to conduct such a get-together in Qatar. Office bearers and delegates from the Syro-Malabar Cultural Associations/Fellowships from the GCC States presented their reports on the existing facilities available for them to practise and follow the faith in the Syro-Malabar tradition in their respective countries. The Meet was held in three different sessions.

Rev. Fr Joby Koottumkal was the moderator of the Interactive Session. Bp Gregory Karotemprel CMI, Rev. Fr Cherian Kanjirakkompil, Rev. Fr Jose Thachukunnel, Doha, Rev. Fr Kuriakose Kannamkara (Oman), Rev. Fr George Vadakkutt (Oman), Rev. Fr Michael Paavusseril Ofm (Sharjah and UAE), Dr Mohan Thomas (Gulf Coordinator) and Mr Francis Thekkethala (local Coordinator of the Syro-Malabar emigrants of the Gulf in Kerala) were the main speakers. Mr Benny Nalpathamkalam, Kuwait, Mr Sunny Mathai, Oman, Mr Rejimon Scaria, Saudi Arabia, Mr Sebastian Kattappuram, Saudi Arabia, Dr Varghese George, Saudi Arabia, Mr Ben John, Saudi Arabia, Mr James Ovelil, Saudi Arabia, Mr Roy C. Antony, Bahrain, Mr Alex Kallivalappil, UAE, Mr Clarence Elavuthinkal, Qatar etc., the delegates from the various GCC Countries shared about the pastoral care they had got then. Many demanded for the creation of parishes and the appointment of priests, proposed by the Major Archbishop, with proper and necessary faculties. Bp Gregory gave necessary clarifications towards the end of the short general discussion.

The Inaugural Session of the Gulf Meet 2007 began when the two bishops from the Gulf area joined the gathering. Mr Clarence Elavathingal, President, SMCA Qatar, welcomed the dignitaries to the Meet. The Gulf Meet 2007 was formally inaugurated by lighting the traditional lamp. Bp Paul Hinder delivered the Presidential Address while Fr Cherian Kanjirakkompil and Fr Tomasito Veneracion Ofm Cap addressed the gathering, felicitating the Gulf Meet 2007. Delegates from the six GCC Countries presented the reports of their respective countries. There were strong suggestions in the reports that the local bishops were providing pastoral care in a limited way and not to the satisfaction of all. Dr Mohan Thomas presented a list of requests, raised in the Interactive Session, to improve the quality of the pastoral care for the consideration of the two bishops.

i. The list of Requests Presented by Dr Mohan Thomas

1. This meet records our deep gratitude, satisfaction and sincerest thanks to Bp. Cammillo Ballin and Bp Paul Hinder.

2. There are some common and country wise observations reflected at the meet. They are the following:

• Bishops of Vicariate of Arabia and Kuwait to appoint a Chief Priest Coordinator and six ‘Priest Coordinators for each GCC countries nominated by Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil.

• Provide Syro Malabar ‘Holy Mass in every country /Emirates on Fridays and Sundays.

• Provide all sacraments in Syro Malabar rite to all the Syro Malabar faithful.

• Catechism to be taught in the syllabus provided by the Syro Malabar Synod.

• Christmas, Easter and St. Thomas day celebrations to be provided in Syro Malabar rite.

• To provide a Syro Malabar Priest as the spiritual advisor and allow them to use the church premises to conduct their prayer meetings and official programmes.

• To promote the present Ad hoc Syro Malabar Priest in Qatar to the status of Parish Priest.

• The Vicariate uses the term “Malayali Catholic Community” in every parish. This is not a rite. Syro Malabar community cannot identify with such terms. 

• To have a detailed discussion for a solution on the pressing issues of the Syro Malabar faithful in Oman and Bahrain and to appoint a commission by Bp. Gregory Karotemprel in consultation with Bp. Paul Hinder.

• Holy Mass in Syro Malabar Rite on every Fridays and Sundays in all Emirates

• Catechism in Syro Malabar rite

• Consent may be taken from Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil before appointing a Syro Malabar Priest in that area.

• There is a need for three more churches in UAE. The Syro Malabar community is ready to work on the permissions and fund raising for such a project.

3. The most touching picture was narrated by the Syro Malabar faithful from Saudi Arabia. Four delegates who spoke in the meet requested for the following:

• To obtain official permission and facility to pray and to receive sacraments in their rite.

• Currently they are having only five masses in a year. The frequency may be increased.

• Currently there is no confession, but only general absolution. More priests may be provided for confession.

• Fr. Cherian Kanjirakombil, Procurator designate to Vatican may request to Holy See to get a special permission to appoint a Syro Malabar Priests for the services of the Syro Malabar faithful in Saudi Arabia. All safety requirements will be met by the prayer groups.

• To authorize the Head of the Prayer Group to issue Status Certificates prior to marriages and to conduct Catechism in the syllabus approved by Syro Malabar Synod.

• To appoint a separate local coordinator under Mr. Francis Thekkethala to coordinate their matters with Major Archbishop and with Bp. Gregory Karotemprel

• A request to send a visiting Syro Malabar Priest from Qatar, as they are getting a second priest for Syro Malabar faithful.

• Requested the Syro Malabar Curia to organize a three day seminar in the first week of August every year for the children and parents of visiting Syro Malabar faithful from GCC countries.

4. As part of the Global meet it was decided to constitute a Global Council for Syro Malabar faithful. A GCC wing was suggested in the following manner:

• A regional GCC council representing the members is suggested.

• Two members nominated from the SMCA of Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman

• Four members nominated by the prayer groups from Saudi Arabia. Four members nominated by SMCA, UAE.

• The Assembly unanimously elected Dr. M. Thomas as the Ad Hoc Chairman of the GCC Regional Council on the proposal by Bp. Gregory Karotemprel and authorized him to formulate the body.

Many of the delegates visited the construction site of the first Syro-Malabar Church in the Gulf. All gathered congratulated the SMCA Qatar, Mr Siby, Chairman of the IDCC and all the faithful for the progress they had achieved in the construction of the church.

A good number of the Syro-Malabar faithful from all over Doha participated in the public meeting in the evening at the premises of the St Thomas Syro-Malabar Church premises where grand traditional reception was accorded to the Bishops and other dignitaries. H.E. Dr George Joseph, the Indian Ambassador to Qatar, was the chief guest of the meeting. He, himself being a member of the Syro-Malabar Church, spoke highly of the Syro-Malabar Church and its glorious tradition and achievements. Mementoes of the Gulf Meet 2007 were presented to the dignitaries. Bp Paul Hinder, Bp Camillo Ballin and Bp Gregory Karotemprel CMI delivered Paternal Address, encouraging the faithful to go forward in true faith and practice. Mr Clarence Elavathingal, President, SMCA Qatar, concluded the public meeting with vote of thanks. With the Holy Qurbana in the evening, the Gulf Meet 2007 came to a beautiful conclusion.

4. Gulf regional Council

The Gulf Regional Council was formed with the members of the SMCA from all the six GCC States after the Gulf Meet 2007. The list is as follows:

5. Syro-Malabar Global Mission (Malayalam)

It is a journal for the Syro-Malabar emigrants, published from December 2006, as per the suggestions of the Global Meet 2006. It is meant to foster the feeling of oneness among the Syro-Malabar Emigrants as well as to publish reports and events that would shed light into the various activities, successes, failures, difficulties and developments of each centre/place/country where the emigrants live. Different events and news items from the emigrant areas are collected through e-mail and edited for the purpose of publishing in the Syro-Malabar Global Mission. The third issue was published around Easter 2008 with a beautiful exposure of the Gulf Meet 2007 as well as the Seminars on the Mission Policy both in Bhopal and at Mount St Thomas and reports and news from various centres of the Syro-Malabar emigrant faithful.

6. Indian Mission Congress 2009 As a follow up of the Asian Mission Congress held in Thailand in 2006 the CBCI has decided to hold an Indian Mission Congress. Most probably it will be held at the Seminary Compound at Gauregaon in Mumbai in the month of October in 2009. An Organising Committee was formed to monitor the efficient conduct of the Congress. His Eminence Cardinal Oswald Gracias, President CCBI, Most Rev. Stanislaus Fernandes, Secretary General CCBI, Bp Jacob Mar Barnabas, Bp Isidore Fernandes, Msgr Siluvai Ignaci, National Director, Pontifical Mission Societies, Rev. Fr Berchmans OIC, Sr Innamma Yeruva, National President, CRI (women), Rev. Fr Vijay Shantiraj, Secretary, Proclamation, CCBI, Rev. Msgr Francis Correa, Western Regional Secretary, Evangelisation, Mr Abraham Arackal, Vice President, Catholic Council of India, Ms Muriel Schooner, Vice President, CCI are the members of the Organising Committee. Bp Gregory Karotemprel CMI, Fr Antony Kariyil CMI, National President of the CRI (Priests) and Fr Joby Koottumkal mst, secretary to the CEPCM are the members to the Committee from the Syro-Malabar Church.

The Executive Committee met for the first time on 15th January 2008 at NBCLC, Bangalore from 10:00 am to 04:00 pm, under the chairmanship of Bishop Isidore Fernandez. Rev. Msgr Siluvai Ignaci, National Director of the Pontifical Societies, Rev. Fr Berchmans, Secretary of the Proclamation Commission, Syro-Malankara Church, Rev. Fr Vijay Shantiraj, Secretary of the Executive Committee and of the Proclamation Commission, Latin Church, Rev. Fr Joby Koottumkal, Secretary of the Proclamation Commission, Syro-Malabar Church, Rev. Fr Antony Kalliath and Rev. Sr Rose attended the meeting, which began with a short prayer by Rev. Msgr Siluvai Ignaci.

A meeting, mainly of the Syro-Malabar participants of the Asian Mission Congress in 2006 in Chiang-Mai, Thailand, was held on 22nd of April 2008 at Mount St Thomas, the Major Archiepiscopal Curia of the Syro-Malabar Church as a preparation for the Organizing Committee meeting (29-04-2008) of the Indian Mission Congress (IMC). Bp Sebastian Vadakel, Msgr Bosco Puthur, Fr Jose Palakeel mst, Fr Pauly Maniatt, Fr Joby Koottumkal and Mrs Beena Manoj participated in the meeting. Fr Joby Koottumkal briefly presented a report of the discussions, thrusts, developments and the procedures of the previous two meetings of the Organizing Committee and the Core Committee of the Indian Mission Congress (IMC) to the participants. The meeting suggested a few points to be presented to the Organising Committee meeting in Mumbai on the 29th of April 2008.

The Organising Committee held three meetings from December 2007 to August 2008 in Mumbai while the Executive Committee held two in Bangalore until August 2008. Fr Joby Koottumkal was nominated also to the Executive Committee. He was nominated the joint secretary of both the Committees by His Beatitude Oswald Cardinal Gracias during the second meeting of the Organising Committee on April 29, 2008. Bp Gregory Karotemprel CMI and Fr Joby Koottumkal attended the meetings of the respective committees until August 2008 and presented the proposals in the interest of the Syro-Malabar Church.

7. One-day Seminar for the Children, Youth & Parents from the Gulf

The Gulf Meet 2007 requested the Syro Malabar Major Archiepiscopal Curia to organize a three day seminar in the first week of August every year for the children and their parents from GCC countries. Although there have been discussions and consultations in the official level on the meeting since the first GCC Meet 2007 in Doha, its official announcement came only in the beginning of June 2008. Preparations have been going on for the meeting although it is held only for a day due to practical reasons. It was arranged separately for two groups from the Gulf; one on the 1st of August 2008 and the other on the 30th of the same month

Major Archbishop Mar Varkey Cardinal Vithayathil inaugurated the one-day seminar at Mount St Thomas at 10:00 am on the 1st of August. Bp Mar Gregory Karotemprel CMI welcomed all the dignitaries and the participants to the seminar. Archbishop Mar Joseph Powathil, Archbishop Mar George Valiyamattam, Bishop Mar George Punnakkottil, Bishop Mar Paul Chittilapilly and Rev. Fr Jose Thachukunnel Ofm Cap., parish priest, Doha, Qatar also were present during the inaugural session on the stage and spoke to the participants of the seminar. Rev. Fr Pauly Kannookadan delivered the vote of thanks.

Major Archbishop Mar Varkey Cardinal Vithayathil inaugurated the one-day seminar at Mount St Thomas at 10:00 am on the 1st of August. Bp Mar Gregory Karotemprel CMI welcomed all the dignitaries and the participants to the seminar. Archbishop Mar Joseph Powathil, Archbishop Mar George Valiyamattam, Bishop Mar George Punnakkottil, Bishop Mar Paul Chittilapilly and Rev. Fr Jose Thachukunnel Ofm Cap., parish priest, Doha, Qatar also were present during the inaugural session on the stage and spoke to the participants of the seminar. Rev. Fr Pauly Kannookadan delivered the vote of thanks. 

The four sessions on various topics related to the Syro-Malabar Church were led by Rev. Fr Jose Puthiyedath (Faith Formation), Rev. Fr Pauly Kannookadan (History and Patrimony of the Syro-Malabar Church), Rev. Fr Jolly Vadakkan, Irinjalakuda (Media and Value Education) and Rev. Fr Shaji Sasseril MST (Missionary Achievements of the Syro-Malabar Church). In the concluding session Bp Gregory Karotemprel, Rev. Fr Jose Thachukunnel Ofm. Cap. and Rev. Fr Joby Koottumkal were present on the stage and clarified the doubts of the participants of the seminar. Fr Joby thanked Bp Gregory and the participants for the smooth conduct of the seminar. Mr Sonu Augustine from Doha, Qatar delivered the general vote of thanks. Rev. Fr Mathew Elappanickal, Rev. Fr Antony Kollannur, Rev. Sr Teresitta SH, the other sisters and the staff at Mount St Thomas worked hard in order to arrange the meeting perfectly and most beautifully.

8. Other Activities

The Commission has been successful in maintaining an effective correspondence with the emigrants of the Syro-Malabar Church, principally through e-mail. Correspondence is regular with almost all the centres/places/countries of the Syro-Malabar emigrants. The Commission has a plan to organize an All India Syro-Malabar Migrants’ Meet by the beginning of the year 2009 in Bangalore. Letters are sent to all the concerned parties in order to gather suggestions.

9. Conclusion

The Commission for the Evangelisation and the Pastoral Care of the Migrants (CEPCM) has been blessed abundantly by God through out the year 2007-2008. The impact that the Global Meet 2006, Gulf Meet 2007 and the two Seminars on the Mission Policy of the Syro-Malabar Church together have created in the Church is enormous and beyond one’s imagination. The seminars on the Mission Policy have generated a renewed mission spirit and deep mission awareness and enthusiasm in the Church. We are grateful to Bishops Mar Vijay Anand Nedumpuram CMI and Mar Mathew Vaniakizhakkel VC as well for their co-operation as Bishop members of the Commission. We also make use of this opportunity to express our sincere thanks to Mar Varkey Cardinal Vithayathil, the Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church, all the members of the Synod of Bishops, members and the staff of Mount St Thomas, the Major Archiepiscopal Curia for the support and encouragement that they have been extending to the Commission.